gooeysphere

Web Technologies, Social Media, Trends, and Culture
Cornelius Smith
Cornelius Smith

This is an exploration of sorts, delving into that gooey yet addictive substance that brings us all together - aka the Internet/web. We'll delve into web analytics, a subject I quite fancy these days. Here we'll also dabble into social media, a bit of art/photography, culture, and fun!

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New App Helps Keep Facebook's Hands Off Your Data

New App Helps Keep Facebook's Hands Off Your Data

Written by Sarah Perez / May 3, 2010 7:23 AM / 9 Comments
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A new application aims to put users back in control of their private data stored on the increasingly public social networking site, Facebook. With "The Green Safe" app, Facebook users can now export their profile data for offsite storage on Green Safe's servers. Data can then be purged from Facebook itself, allowing only friends to view profile information by way of a profile page tab labeled "My Info."

Privacy Concerns for Facebook Users

With the ever-growing concern about Facebook's data-sharing policies - policies that are now under attack from several U.S. senators - people are becoming more concerned about how personal information shared with the world's largest social networking site is being used.

After already having been blindsided with "recommended settings" that automatically publicized previously private data like status updates and photos, Facebook users are now dealing with even more changes that have major privacy implications. Recently announced initiatives include things like "instantly personalized" websites that tap into your Facebook data without prior authorization, revamped profile pages where every interest of yours from bands to books is made public and new terms for Facebook application developers that allow apps to store your data indefinitely.

Despite these radical changes on Facebook's part, few users are actually deleting their Facebook accounts. Although the privacy concerns are troubling, the social network has become more than a simple pastime for many people. Instead, it has transformed into a communication tool nearly as vital as email for staying in touch with networks of friends, family, co-workers and other colleagues.

Now instead of deleting your Facebook account, The Green Safe app offers a viable alternative: keep Facebook, but remove Facebook's ability to access your data. And with the data gone from Facebook, application developers and their partners are also out of luck... at least those whose apps you install going forward.

How "The Green Safe" Works

To use The Green Safe, you grant it access just like any other Facebook application, quiz or game, then tell it to "Import Your Data." After the import is complete, follow the instructions provided to add the app to a tab on your Facebook profile. It will appear as a tab labeled "My Info", which only your friends can see. At this point, you can return to your Facebook profile and delete the information stored there, removing it from Facebook's control.

via readwriteweb.com

Posted by Cornelius Smith
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